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Maximizing Cow Comfort“Time to consider your cow’s life”

David W. KammelBiological Systems Engineering

UW Madison

Cow ComfortHousing System Design which:

– Protects the cow from severe environmental conditions

– Provides adequate space for resting, eating, drinking, and walking

– Limits the likelihood of injury and/or disease– Considers all the cows in the herd

• (especially the subordinate cows)

Cow ComfortConsider how you can influence

Facility design decisionsFacility changesManagement practices

……..to achieve Cow Comfort

Cow BehaviorPen stocking rate

• Increased stocking rate from 100-150%lying times were reducedcows spent more time standing outside the stallcows lay down more quickly after milkingincreased stall displacementOver 120% increased negative affects on cowsAt 130% stocking rate cows preferred using a freestallrather than eat post milking

Batchelder (2000)

Cow BehaviorGrouping

Grouping strategy affects resting behavior• Dominate cows(typically older) affect behavior of

subordinate cows (typically younger)

• Dominate cows displace subordinate cows for rest, water, and feed space

• Movement of subordinate cows is affected by location of dominant cows

Cow BehaviorGrouping

• Maximize time period in group for social stability

• Takes 5-15 days to reach baseline after commingling or regrouping

• Especially important in transition cows and freshening pen design

• Overstocking creates additional stress

(Boe and Faerevik, 2003)

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Dairy Cow Daily Time BudgetGrazing versus Free Stall System

Dairy Cow Daily Time BudgetFreestall Housing

14.1

0.51.1

5.5

0.32.5

11.8

1.42.2

5.5

0.42.7

02468

1012141618202224

Dai

ly A

ctiv

ity(H

ours

per

Day

)

Top 10% Cows Average Cows

MilkingDrinkingEatingStanding in AlleyPerching in StallResting

Rick Grant Miner Institute, Matzke 2003

Cow BehaviorRest or eat

Cows have a strong motivation to restWhen both resting and feed are restricted cows will choose to?

a. rest rather than eatb. eat rather than rest

Cow BehaviorResting Space

Prefer slightly to lay down longer on open bedded pen over freestall

Prefer to stand on open bedded pen surface over freestall bed

(Fregonesi, 2009)

Bedded Pen Resting Space

Bedding Quantity25-35 lb/ bedding /cow/day

Bedded Pen Resting Space

Resting Space Area- 80-100 square feet/ cow minimum

Bedding depth more than- 6” deep

Groomed/tilled to aerate and dry surface

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Bob LungeSpace Head Space Body Space

Neal Anderson

Freestall Resting Space Proper freestall design should providea cow with the ability to:

Stretch their front feet forwardLie on their sides, with unobstructed space for neck and headRest head against their sides without hindrance from a partitionRest with legs, udders, and tails on platformStand or lie without fear or pain from neck rails, partitions, or supportsRest on clean, dry, and comfortable bedding

(Anderson, 2002)

LungeandBobSpace

Wall

Alley

HeadSpace

Body Space

NeckRail

BrisketLocator

Curb

Freestall Resting Space

More restrictive stall designs are less attractive to cow

Neck rail position importantMoved neck rail away from curb 51 inches to 74 inches(49 inches above stall surface)• Lying time did not change – 12.3 hours per day• Cows spent more time standing with all 4 hooves in stall• Cows more likely to defecate and urinate in stall• Dirtier udders and more stall cleaning time

Cow BehaviorStall Design

(Fregonesi, Bernardi 2008)

Stall divider spacing• Cows lay down longer in wider stalls

Brisket locator• Cows spend more time lying in stalls without brisket

locator• When given a choice cows spend more time in stalls

without brisket locator

Cow BehaviorStall Design

(Tucker, Weary 2003)

Little CowBig Cow

Proper Freestall Size

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Stall Dimension (inches) Body Weight Estimate (lbs)1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Total stall length facing a wall (A) 96 96 108 120 120

Curb to curb distance for head-to-head platform 192 192 204 204 216

Distance from rear curb to brisket locator (B) 64 66 68 70 72

Center-to-center stall divider placement (Stall width) (C) 44 46 48 50 54

Height of brisket locator above stall surface (D) 3 3 4 4 4

Height of upper edge of bottom divider rail above stall surface (E) 11 11 12 12 12

Height below neck rail (F) 44 46 48 50 52

Horizontal distance between rear edge of neck rail and rear curb for mattress stalls (G) 64 66 68 70 72

Horizontal distance between rear edge of neck rail and rear curb for deep loose bedded stalls (G=B-I) 58 60 62 64 66

Rear curb height (H) 8 8 8 8 8Rear curb width (loose bedded stalls) (I) 6 6 6 6 6

Freestall Dimensions

Dairyland Initiative Website

Sand FS Design

A

B

DE

F

G

HI

Good Standing Position

Good Free Stall Design and Management Crumb Rubber Mattress

Gel Mattress

Multi-layer Mat

Waterbed Mattress

Adequate Sand Base

Stall Loop Divider

Adequate Neck Rail Height

Low Brisket Locator

Good Free Stall Design and Management

CurbGood Lying Position

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Neal Anderson

Cushion of 4-6 inchesClean and dryMinimizes ability to harbor and/or promote growth of mastitis organismsMinimizes potential for:

SlippingHock abrasion and swelling

Manure handling implications

Free Stall Resting Surface

Cows prefer more bedding (cushion)

Cows reduce lying time as depth of sand decreases

Cows lie longer in deep bedded stalls

Cow BehaviorFreestall Bedding Quantity

(Tucker 2003, 2008)

Cow preference

1. Deep bedded sawdust2. Deep bedded sand3. Mattress with sawdust

Cow BehaviorFreestall Bedding Type and Quality

(Tucker Weary 2003)

Cows prefer dry versus wet bedding

• Lie longer on dry bedding as compared to wet bedding (Fregonesi 2007)

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Cow BehaviorFeeding Space

Cows have a natural aggressive feeding drive

High producing cows (older) versus low producing (younger)• Eat more feed• Eat larger meals, more quickly• Ruminate more efficiently• Drink more water more quickly

(Dado Allen, 1994)

High stocking density at the feed bunk: • Increases aggressive competition• Keeps subordinate cows away from feed

Physical barriers between cows:• Reduces competition• Increases feeding time

A cow can exert 500 pounds of force on the feed barrier

(Hansen and Pallesen, 1998)

Cow BehaviorFeeding Space

Feed Space Design

Feed platform design to encourage dry matter intake

4 feet of smooth eating surface in front of cow

Eating surface elevation 3-6 inches higherthan cow’s standing elevation

Tip out self-locks to increase feed access (hoof wear)

Offset rail to increase feed access (hoof wear)

Feed Space DesignPost and Rail

4 feet

3-6 inches

8-10 inches

Cow Side

Feed Side

21 inches

48-50 inches

Feed SpacePost and Rail

Feed Space(3 of 4)

Feed SpaceHeadlocks

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Feed SpaceFeed Stalls

Feed Space Design

24 inches space per animal typical of headlocks

30-36 inches space per animal for transition cows

If 15-18 inches space per animalFeed should always be availablePushing up feed 5-10 times/day may be needed

Cow BehaviorStanding

Cows prefer to stand on a soft surface• Deep bed organic• Rubber• Concrete

Access to dry comfortable standing area reduces risk of lameness• Time standing on concrete increases risk of

lameness• Rest period on pasture helps lame cows recover

TriviaCows walking speed is 2-3 mphCows grazing walking speed 0.5 mph

(Telezhenko, 2006)

(Hernandez, 2006)

Walking SpaceConcrete

Cross Section of grooved surface

½ inch

½ -3/4 inch

2.5-4 inches

Walking SpaceRubber

o Water consumption associated with feeding and milkingo Cows consume 30-50% of their water intake within 1 hour after

milking.o A cow can drink at a rate of 1-4 gallons/ minuteo One watering device for every 15-20 cows,

or 3-4 inches space per cowo Protect nearby

freestalls fromsplashing of water

Cow BehaviorDrinking

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Water Space(1 of 2)

– Two water locations per pen– Consider subordinate cows

Cow behaviorLighting

Long day lighting- 16 hours light- 8 hours dark- (Reverse for dry cows)

Energy efficient lamps- Metal halide- Fluorescent- LED

Proper illumination levelsProper color rendition

Cow BehaviorEnvironment

THITemperature Humidity Index

• Seek Shade (low light)• Respiration rate• Standing• Stand near water tank• Water intake• Dry matter Intake• Milk Production• Reproductive Performance

Cow Behavior (Heat Stress)Temperature and humidity

Shade• 50% blockage minimum

Air• Increase Air Velocity

over animal• 400-800 fpm velocity• Holding Pen and

Resting areaWater

• Access to water• Sprinklers to Evaporate

Water off Cows Back

Cow Cooling Design

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Sprinklers

Sprinkle the cow

High Speed Low Volume (HSLV)400-800 fpm @ 20,000-30,000 cfm

Increase velocity over cow

High Volume Low Speed (HVLS)300 fpm @ 120,000-200,000 cfm

Increase velocity over cow Cross ventilated Barns

During the transition period• healthy cows have a lower feed intake reduction than mild

or severe metritis cowsOverstocking creates additional stress• 3 row pens vs 2 row pen

• Less total space per cow• Less bunk space per cow• Less access to preferred stalls• Essentially overstocked

• Changing barn design for this group to use a 2 row pen design

Cow Behavior – Transition Cows

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Rotating Maternity Pen

4.3

m5.

0 m

5.0

m3.

0 m

2.75

m10

.75

m15.0

5 m

Headlocks

Drover Lane

W WW

Feed Lane

W W

4.5 m 4.3 m 11.0 m 11.0 m 11.2 m

Pen 2Pen 3Pen 1

HospitalPen1 cow

HospitalPen1 cow

HL HL

20.0

5 m

42.0 m

11 m x 8 m = 88 s.m.Closeup Cows/heifers 21 days8 cows @ 7 days capacity

11 m x 8 m = 88 s.m.Closeup Cows/heifers 21 days8 cows @ 7 days capacity

11 m x 8 m = 88 s.m.Closeup Cows/heifers 21 days8 cows @ 7 days capacity

8.0

m

Cow ComfortHousing System Design which:

– Protects the cow from severe environmental conditions

– Provides adequate space for resting, eating, drinking, and walking

– Limits the likelihood of injury and/or disease– Considers all the cows in the herd

• (especially the subordinate cows)

Cow ComfortConsider how you can influence

Facility design decisionsManagement practices

……to achieve Cow Comfort

Questions?